// Encyclopedia

Definition of: digital pen(1) See stylus pen.(2) An electronic ballpoint pen that digitizes, stores and transfers what is written or drawn to the computer. Instead of a mouse, a digital pen provides a very natural way to hand write and hand draw into the computer. In addition, since it stores everything internally, the data transfer to the computer via wireless or USB can be done at a later time. Digital pens may also include audio recording (see below).

Digital pens use a digital paper technology developed by the Swedish Anoto Group. For more on this, see Anoto.

Livescribe's Smartpens are also audio recorders so that students can capture the lectures with their notes. By pointing the Smartpen to their writing or drawings on the digital paper, they can play back the lecture they were listening to when they made those entries. (Image courtesy of Livescribe, Inc., www.livescribe.com)